Steelers dump Alameda Ta’amu

After rookie fourth-round defensive tackle Alameda Ta’amu was arrested on a laundry list of charges last month, the team suspended him two games. Apparently, that was the extent of the punishment.

Apparently, it wasn’t.

On Monday, the Steelers waived Ta’amu, creating a roster-spot for practice-squad receiver David Gilreath, who’ll help replace injured receiver Antonio Brown for Monday night’s game against the Chiefs

Ta’amu will be required to pass through waivers, and every team will have a crack at claiming the contract of the fourth-round pick. The fact that he already has been punished by the Steelers arguably means that he can’t be fined or suspended by the league.

If Ta’amu passes threw waivers, the Steelers could sign him to the practice squad. If they don’t, then it shows they’ve decided that they’re done with him.

Sad to see a guy with promise piss it all away (pun very much intended there).

I know a lot of people were up in arms with the Steelers for only suspending him two games but I think most folks knew this was coming, and the suspension was just to keep him away from the team until he was formally arraigned.

This guy was actually a top-5 draft pick in some mock drafts towards end of last college season. Not saying that I agreed with it, and obviously he ended-up going in 4th round, but he at least displayed some sort of potential at one time. From what I heard at the time in the local news here in Seattle, he was big time underachiever for UW Huskies.

I don’t really want Seahawks to claim him, but the guy is probably worth taking chance on as a waiver-claim for team desperate for DL help. Hoping that his getting cut maybe serves as a wake-up call.

ravenator says:Nov 12, 2012 5:40 PM

Cue the steeler fans who supported this criminal now claim that the steelers organization is classy for cutting ties.

radrntn says:Nov 12, 2012 5:41 PM

have to wonder since this is big rich’s last year in oakland, if raiders would be intersted in him, and adding depth…

I’m a Steelers fan and at the time, I thought it was the correct move to keep him. However, I now feel it shows what a class act of an organization the Steelers are for cutting ties with this criminal.

Chiefs just lost Dorsey for the year. Dorsey won’t be back in a KC uniform. Pioli needs to claim this kid as his last move before he loses his job.

tomthebombtracy says:Nov 12, 2012 6:47 PM

This young man might otherwise be detained in Pittsburgh by the little matter of a trial coming up for assault, assault a with a vehicle while DUI and leading officers on a Blues Brothers style car chase among other details.

eidolon21 says:Nov 12, 2012 6:48 PM

ravens play Lewis and Suggs two of the biggest criminals in NFL history now that is class

So if they are classy for cutting him, what are they for keeping #7? Business men or hypocrites. U cut #10 who smoked weed but u keep #7. Yes a very very classy team.

ialwayswantedtobeabanker says:Nov 12, 2012 6:59 PM

PIT NG Steve McClendon has performed well, holding the point and collapsing the interior.

Though Ta’amu appears to have created quite a rap sheet for himself and that’s got to be a big factor — it’s also likely that McClendon’s strong play at the 0 gap also had something to do with this decision.

Finally, this time of year – roster spots become even more invaluable due to injuries opening up critical need areas.

Hopefully, Ta’amu clears waivers, we P.S. him and he matures as a man and a player.

Gilreath looked amazing in preseason and caught everything his way and ran hard and earned extra yards after the catch- any other team he would be the 2nd/3rd wr starter! The depth of the Steelers wrs is the only reason he didn’t make he team! Welcome back!

paulsmith107 says:Nov 12, 2012 7:02 PM

I was wanting Dallas to take him in the third round of the draft. I want them to take him now

burnttoast, #7 was never charged, and never settled out of court. Gold digging gone wrong. #10 was charged, warned, caught again, warned, again caught with weed. Then went on to tear apart the Jets locket room. Mean while Ben goes to another super bowl. There is no class in big buisness people. Only on msg boards. There are only winners and losers. You can call Ambassador Rooney classless, but that would be a very incorrect statement.

djcologne says:Nov 12, 2012 8:14 PM

@ Blacknoleo8 – Fuamatu-Ma’afala currently resides in Honolulu, and works with Army Youth Sports, coaching and organizing sports events for children of military personnel and playing Racquetball with local enthusiasts.

I’m not sure other teams would want him at this point on their active roster, and if he has a practice squad choice, which doesn’t pay much, he’s better off in Pittsburgh because he’ll be dealing with Pennsylvania’s legal system for awhile

foreverrebuilding says:Nov 12, 2012 10:02 PM

Anybody who that thinks Roethlisberger is innocent is, quite frankly, naive. It was settled out of court because he needed to buy her silence. His career was over without it. Read the transcripts of her conversations with the police – he raped her. Period.

There is a double standard here, and it’s easy to apply. Franchise quarterback that rapes somebody – still a franchise quarterback. Backup NT that gets drunk and does stupid thing – still not a franchise quarterback.

yssupasigninnamnotyep says:Nov 13, 2012 1:45 AM

Pass ‘threw’ waivers? Your WV education is showing up again Florio.

mjozz90 says:Nov 14, 2012 8:04 PM

Yea he is a rookie and still can learn a new scheme. But, he is a 3-4 DT not a 4-3. So he wouldn’t really be much a factor for the giants or bengals